Jewellery company to face charges

A company operating the online Nigel O’Hara jewellery business is facing 10 charges related to unfair trading.

The case against JRN Jewellers and its director Richard O’Hara (35) will be heard at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on December 1.

Mr O’Hara and the company are charged with five counts of engaging in misleading commercial practice, three counts of engaging in unfair commercial practice, and two of knowingly/recklessly engaging in commercial practice.

JRN Jewellers, with an office registered to 1 William Street, confirmed that the company has had to close with the loss of more than 35 jobs.

Mr O’Hara, of Linvara, Tandragee, said, “This is a very difficult time for staff, family members and customers of the business. I am unable to comment further at this stage.”

The case is being brought by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s Trading Standards Service, under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

The charges relate to dates between December 1, 2013 and November 7, 2014.

Among the allegations are incorrect prices for goods, including watches, advertised on the Nigel O’Hara website; and claims of a ‘hurry, sale ends tonight’ claim which, it is alleged, were false ‘because the sale did not end on that night’.

It is further alleged that JRN Jewellers advertised that a television had been discounted from the previous selling price whereas the TV ‘had never been offered for sale at the higher price’, and that the Nigel O’Hara website offered to supply a watch without disclosing that it would not be able to supply it.

Charges also include taking payment ‘without ascertaining if you were in a position to supply the product ordered at the price indicated withing a reasonable time’, failure to refund money within the time periods stipulated, and offering a 100 per cent cash back prize, without awarding the prizes described or a reasonable equivalent.

Last week, the Nigel O’Hara Jewellers shop in Portadown announced it was closing after 42 years in business.